Slab for tables and the like



April 9, 1929.

C. W. CALDWELL SLAB FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE;

Filed April 1927 W A Inventor 4 Charles W Caldwell.

tto rney Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

Eran stares masses rarest series.

antennas w. CALDWELL, or LAWRENCE, new YonK.

SLAB FOR TABLES AND THE Application filed April 7,

marring to such an extent as to render the slab useless. Moreover, marble is easily scratched or stained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a slab that may be highly ornamental, yet practically unbreakable and proof against scratching or. staining by any of the ordinary incidents of use. Tothis end, the present invention includes a base, which may be composed of sheet metal, preferably a rolled sheet or plate of substantial thickness. Upon this base is cemented a slab, which ma be composed of comparatively small blocks or tiles cemented to each other and to the metal base. v

By building the slab of mosaic tile of various shapes and colors, various fanciful, beautiful or artistic designs may be had on the surface of the slab. Slabs of any size and shape may readily be made by building it up of small parts. The exposed surface of the blocks are preferably glazed to resist scratch ing. If desired, a row or rows of tile blocks at the edge of the slab may be made higher than the inner blocks, preferably by using tiles of greater thickness. This provides ridges that greatly increase the mechanical strength of the slab and also serve to retain dishes from sliding or spilled liquids from running over the edge.

The layer of blocks and the metal plate reenforce each other and resist bending, the V.

blocks serving mainly as thrust elements and the metal as tension as well as thrust element of the composite structure. In this respect, the composite slab has some of the qualities of reenforced concrete. Preferably, two rows of blocks are provided, on the bottom of the metal plate, extending along the opposite edges thereof. These further strengthen the 'slab while serving the purpose of cleats to keep the slab from sliding off the supporting stand. Abutments are also provided by extending downwardly 1927. Serial 7 No. 181,689

blocks on the bottom of the slab to engage the frame work of the stand to position the slab on said stand.

Theedges of the slab may be finished by grinding and then painting.

Other features and at vantages will hereinafter appear.

Fig. l is a perspective seen'from above stand.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of seen from beneath.

Fig. 3 is an-end view, in section, showing the slab supported on the stand.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of a View of the slab as and slightly raised from the the slab as portion of the'slab.

The slab 5 includes a base, be composed of a rolled metal able thickness, as, for example, 14 gauge. One top of the base 6 is secured to a thin slab section, 7. Said slab section may be com- 6, which may plate of suitposed of mosaic tile blocks, 8, which are se-' cured to each other ment, 9 i), to integral unit.

on a frame, 10,

and to the base 6 by ceform with the base 6 an The slab 5 may be supported of a stand 11 having legs 12 from the frame 10. To keep the slab from sliding in the direction parallel to the shorter side of the frame 10, the bottom of the base 6 is provided with two ridges, l3, composed of tile blocks 14 secured to said base by cement 9, said ridges extending along the frame 10. Abutments,-

15, formed of tile blocks, cemented to the bottom of the base 6, engage the frame as in Fig. 3 to locate the slab 5 on the frame 10.

To prevent accidentally spilled liquid from running over the edge of the slab 5, it is provided at its edge with a ridge 16 composed of blocks 17 slightly thicker than the blocks 8, the blocks 17 being also cemented to the base 6. The blocks 8 and 16 may exposed surfaces to resist scratching and to beautify the surface. The blocks may be of different colors, arranged according to a predetermined design.

The edges of the slab may be finished, by grinding, after the tile blocks have been cemented to the top and bottom of the plate 7. The finished edges may then be painted as indicated at 18in Fig. 4.

The cement, 9, may be composed of two layers, a layer, 20, such as, for example,

be glazed on their Pilett cement, which adheres readily to metal, and over this is spread a layer of the usual hite, Waterproof cement, 2.1, which prevents spilled liquids from soaking through to the plate, 6, and rusting the latter.

It will be understood that the slab section 7 reentorces the plate 6 against vice versa, and that the ridges 13-at the hotthe ridges l3 serveas Ziroma flat object.

slab of this invention may It should also be understood, in addition to the features herein pointed out, that the be made much more readily and more economi bending and callythanthe marble slab used heretofore, and that it may be marketed at a considerably lower price.

Iclaim: 1 a 1. In a table, a supporting stand, a table to p therefor comprising a slab, said slab ineluding a heavy fsheetmetal plate,-acovering a layer comprising tile blocks cemented to each other and to said plate, and means on said plate for holding the slab on the supporting stand; i

2. In a table, a supporting stand, a table top therefor comprising a slab, said slab including a heavy sheet metal plate, a covering layer comprisingtile blocks cemented to each other and to said plate, and means comprising tile lbloclrson said plate for holding the slab on the supportingstand;

Signed at New York, inthe county of New York and State'ot New York this 6th day of April, A. D. 1-927.

CHARLES W. CALDWELL. 

